Ohanaeze Faults Buhari over IGP Appointment

Following the appointment of the Deputy Inspector-General, DIG, Usman Alkali Baba, as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP, yesterday, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has condemned the appointment.

However, with immediate effect, the appointment was disclosed yesterday by the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi.
Baba’s appointment came after his immediate boss and predecessor, Mohammed Adamu, paid a visit to Owerri, Imo State, to assess the extent of damage done by the gunmen who attacked Owerri Prisons and Imo State police command headquarters, freeing inmates and setting ablaze vehicles in the command premises.

The group said the Federal Government’s injustice was responsible for the growing agitations and insecurity in the South-East. The National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, who spoke to journalists in an interview, said it was most unfortunate that President Buhari had sidelined the people of the South-East in his recent appointment of service chiefs and now in the position of an IGP.

However, according to the Minister of Police Affairs, professionalism, competence and years of service were considered before the appointment.
Recall that President Buhari had, on February 4, extended the tenure of the former IGP Mohammed Adamu for three months after other service chiefs were relieved of their duty. Still, Adamu has spent just two months and three days of the extension.
The Minister said: “The tenure of the IGP Mohammed Adamu, which ended on February 1, 2021, was extended by Mr President to enable a detailed process of appointing a new IGP, in line with Section 15 (A) of the 1999 Constitution.

“After a thorough check of a shortlist of suitably qualified police officers from the rank of DIGs and AIGs, who are eligible police officers, eligible for appointment as IGP, in line with Section 7, subsection 2 of the Nigeria Police Act (2020), and having regards to seniority, professionalism, a record of service and competence, Mr President has approved the appointment of an acting IGP, in the person of Usman Alkali Baba, PSE, FDC, with immediate effect.

“These changes are in line with the determination of Mr President to rejig the security architecture country, to ensure that the security challenges bedevilling the nation are brought to an end.
“Mr President has therefore charged the new appointee to rise to the challenge to ensure policing reform policy of this administration are fully prioritized and implemented to enable the police to perform most effectively for the peace and security of lives and property of all Nigerians.

“Mr. President thanks the outgoing IGP, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, for his professionalism and dedication to duty during the period of his tenure. He wished him all the best in his future endeavours.”
Meanwhile, the Acting IGP, who hails from Gaidam, Yobe State, was born on March 1, 1963, and enlisted in the Nigeria Police on March 15, 1988.

Until his appointment, Baba has been serving as the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters.
Baba noted that his policing vision remains “to enhance police primacy in Nigeria through the provision of a motivational and credible leadership, driven by professional knowledge, ethics, emotional intelligence tools, and strategic planning and operational models that are directed at stabilizing internal security and modernizing police operations, facilities and standards within the framework of citizens, consent, trust, and rule of law.”